Crane.



A. P. LUNDIN.

CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1912.

1,120,727. l Patented Dec. 15,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1HE MORRIS PETERS Co.. PHOTO-Unio.. WASHINGTON, n C

A. P. LUNDIN.

CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1912.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

IVI IllLLllll @1M a) wm dgigv M *HE NORRIS PETERS C0 PHOTU-LITHQ.. WASHING roN. n, C

A. P. LUNDIN.

CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, m12A 1,120,727. Patented Dec. 15,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. P. LUNDIN.

CRANE.

APPLICATION rum) JAN. 5. 1912.

1,120,727. Patented Deo. 1'5, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ANDREAS P. LUNDIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 VVELIN DAVIT AND L'NE enr rien.

DEGROOT CO., CONSOLIDATED, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CRANE.

inseam.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd Dec. 15, 191.315,`

Application filed January 5, 1912. Serial No. 669,632.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREAS P. LUNDIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of vthe borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cranes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cranes and particularly to cranes of the quadrant type illustrated in Letters Patent No. 986,399, granted to me March 7th, 1911.

By the use of my invention, falls are arranged in relation to a crane-arm or beam, which is pivoted intermediate its ends or which swings vertically around a pivotal axis intermediate its ends in such a manner that a load suspended from a rope passing over the outer or upper end of the crane-arm will exert a balancing pull on the end of the beam below the intermediate axis, thus permitting suspension and inward swinging of the load with much less power and leverage than has heretofore been possible.

Furthermore the lateral strain, or what may be termed the toppling strain on the device due to the suspension and swinging of the load, is not only greatly diminished but is more evenly distributed and balanced,-the direction of all such strain, which has always heretofore been in lines inclined upwardly from a horizontal plane passing through such intermediate axis, is changed to lines which will run considerably below such horizontal plane.

Furthermore, the bending moments or bending strain on the upper end of the crane-arm or beam, as well as on the parts supporting the same, will be greatly diminished,-the pull or strain exerted by the suspension of the load being divided between the upper and lower ends of the crane-arm.

As a result of the aforesaid arrangement, in constructions of this type the leverage, or in other words the length of beam below the pivotal axis of the arm. required to move a given load for a given distance may be greatly diminished and of course much lighter crane constructions may be employed.

Furthermore, while it has heretofore been possible by the use of previous arrangements of vthe falls to compel the load while being swung inwardly or outwardly by the crane-arm to travel in a path intersecting a horizontal plane passing through the center of the load after hoisting and running slightly above and below the same,the use of my present invention provides what may be termed an excess of compensation of the falls, which, when regulated as hereinafter described, will compel the load Vto travel in a true horizontal plane.

Another feature of my invention. pro` vides, in combination with a crane pivoted intermediate its ends as aforesaid, a counterbalancing weight laterally adjustable on a pivoted lever whereby the weight not only assists in pulling the crane beam inwardly, but the effective pull exerted by such weight, varies automatically as the crane is moved inwardly or outwardly. the greatest pull is y exerted when the crane is at its extended *p0- sition and is gradually reduced as it is brought toward vertical position, in which position, but little if any counterweight is required; and furthermore the effectiveness ot' the weight may bepositively varied at the will of the operator for the handling of loads of different weights. i.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views; Figure l is a side elevation, of a device embodying my invention, the base being partly broken away; Fig. l is an elevation of the forward end of the crane looking from the left of Fig. l; Fig. 2 is a rear ele,- vation of the device illustrated in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a view from the rear of a modified arrangement of the falls; lFig. et is a fragmentary view showing the heel of the quadrant and contiguous partsof a frame of another modified form; and Figs. 5, 6, 7 andS are similar views showing modified forms of devices for regulating compensation 'of the falls and for taking up slack of the rope.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention. A designates a suitable base provided with a track a and an internal gear a both concentrically arranged around a vertical column B secured to the base in any suitable manner.

C indicates a frame mounted in any suitable manner upon the column B to swing horizontally. As illustrated, the frame C is provided with racks 0 extending parallel with each other and on either side of the column B.

A crane-arm D having.I as shown, its lower portiongdivided to form two laterally extendingi'legs D2 and each leg being provided at its lower extremity with a toothed segment D, is so supported in said frame that the segments D roll along the racks c as theycrane-arm swings vertically. Obviously a crane-arm so mounted will rotate about an axis v`intermediate its ends.

ln my preferred construction, the cranearm is pivoted at such intermediate axis to a nut d through which a worm E, supported tohave rotary but not longitudinal movement in the frame C, passes, and when the worm is rotated in opposite directions the nut will be compelled to travel along the same, carrying the arm D outwardly or inwardly according to the direction of rotation and the segments D will be forced to roll along racks c in the frame.

The preferred means employed by me to compel a load suspended from the outer end of the crane-arm D to exert a balancing pull on the en df of the crane-arm below its intermediate axis will now be described. The upper end of the crane-armi) ispreferably provided with two pulleys F and the upper portion of the frame C is preferably provided with a rearwardly-projecting bearing bracket g in which two pulleys G are mounted. The frame C bis also preferably provided with bearing brackets lz at each side of its lower rear portion and below and adjacent to the heel of segments D, in which brackets 71, are mounted two pulleys H.. As shown in Figs. l and 2, two chains J are secured at one of their ends to the respective heels of the segments D.-and then each of such chains is passed over one of the pulleys H and the corresponding pulley Gr, and the other ends of the vchains J are then each secured to one of the ends of the rope J, the two strands of which injturn pass .over the pulleys F and the loopedcendd of said rope J passes beneath a pulley Ff which is suspended therefrom at right angles to the pulleys F in the upper end ,of the crane-arm. Suitable means are preferably provided at the outer end of the crane-arm for attaching a load to the rope J and forl hoisting the same. As shown a gai- L, provided with two pulleys M at its outer end is pivoted to the crane-arm D at a point Z a suitable distance below its upper end, and the gaff L is suitably connected to the pulley F. Another rope N is connected to one of two oppositely arranged hoisting drums P, fixed on a common shaft p, journaled in suitable bearing brackets 29 on the frame C. The rope N is then led upwardly over one of the pulleys M, thence downwardly around a pulley K suspended fromjrope N, and journaled in a block K', which is provided with hook k, thence upwardly over the other pulley M in the gaff L and thence downwardly, vits other end being yconnected to the opposite hoisting drum P. Any suitable means may be employed, first, to rotate the rope drums to hoist the load, second, to rotate worm E to swing the crane-arms vertically, and third, to swing the frame horizontally in relation to the base. Preferably, l provide a motor E geared by means of gea-rs e e to rotate the worm E in opposite directions to swing the crane-arm vertically; a motor C, geared to the internal gear a by means of beveled pinions g g', vertical shaft Q and pinion g2, to swing the frame C horizontally about the column B and a motor F geared to the hat p of the rope-drums P to hoist the The operation of the device as so far described will be obvious from the above. It will also be obvious that when a load X is suspended from the hook 7c a balancing pull, will, by` reason of the arrangement of the falls above described, be exerted upon the heels of the segments D and the pull of such weight will thus be divided and distributed more evenly than has heretofore been possible; the bending moments or stress upon the beam will be diminished and furthermore the lateral or toppling strain upon the frame C and column B will be greatly diminished and the direction of all such strain, which has always heretofore been inclined upwardly from a horizontal plane passing through the worm E is changed so that the pull or strain upon the frame and column exerted by such load will be in a direction downwardly from such horizontal plane and, as a result less leverage or length of beam below the pivotal axis, and a much lighter constructiony of the crane-arm and frame vwill be required to handle a given load than heretofore.

In a joint application, Serial No. 632,604, filed June 12th, 1911 by myself and Axel Welin, a crane is provided with a load sup` porting rope which is connected at one end to a gaff similar to the gaff L pivoted to the crane-arm in the manner hereinabove described, said rope then passing upwardly over a pulley in the outer end of a cranearm, and thence downwardly its other end being connected to a rearward projection on the upper end of the frame. In such an arrangement, a load supported by a rope will traverse a path intersecting and extending somewhat above and below a horizontal plane passing through such load after hoisting. By the use of the arrangement of the falls hereinabove described, however, an additional, or what I shall term an @excess compensation of the falls, is produced by the varying of the distance between the heels of the segments and the pulleys H, which excess compensation is capable of easy regulation and which when automatically regulated as hereinabove described,

will compel the load to travel in a true horizontal plane. For the purpose of so regula'ting such excess compensation to compel the load to traverse a true horizontal path as aforesaid, I have shown a number of' regulating devices. Thus in Fig. l, I have shown a chain or rope I securely fastened at one end to the frame C and at the other end to the chain or rope J The rope I is so proportioned to the size and movement of the crane-arm that so soon as the load in its travel reaches the horizontal path and no further compensation of the falls is desirable, it will become taut and prevent any further movement of the falls relatively to the outer end of the crane-arm, and the rope or chain J below the point at which it is attached will simply be slacked. This is the simplest form of regulating device but I prefer to use one of the forms illustrated and described in the modified forms illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a regulating device G5, comprising what I shall term a sector having differential radii, pivoted to a rearward projection c5, and provided with a groove into which the chain J 5 fits, the bottom of the groove preferably being provided with teeth g5 with which the links of the chain mesh. The radii of this device will, of course, be proportioned to the size and extent of movement of the crane and when so proportioned will automatically regulate the distance between the upper end of' the crane-arm and the load to compel it to traverse a true horizontal path.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a somewhat similar regulating device WV, comprising what I shall term a star wheel having spokes or legs I/V, V2 and W3 of different lengths. The chain J 6 which is connected at one end to the heel of the quadrant or segment D and passes beneath a pulley H6, journaled in the frame, is secured to one of the legs IV and the two legs IV and VZ constitute in effect a continuation of the rope J 6 which then passes upwardly to the top of the crane. This regulating device, however, provides means comprising a rope Y connected at one end to the quadrant and led directly upwardly and connected at its other end to the outer end of the spoke or leg V3 of the star wheel, for taking up any slack of the rope JG which may occur between its connection at the heel of the segment of the crane and the end of the spoke or leg W.

In Fig. 7, I have shown still another modified form in which a lever Z is pivoted at Z to the frame C intermediate its upper and lower rails and is adapted to swing upwardly therefrom. A rope J7 is connected at one end to the heel of the crane D, is led beneath pulley H7, thence connected to the end of the lever Z and thence upwardly over pulley GrT to the top of the crane.

In Fig. S, I` have shown a construction in which no regulating device of any kind is employed. Such construction may be desirable in some cases. In this figure a rope Js is connected to the heel of the crane D, led beneath pulley I-IS, thence upwardly over pulley GS and to the top of' the crane.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a regulating device V provided with two laterally and downwardly extending legs o o to which chains J3 may be secured and having a single upwardly extending leg o to which the rope leading to the upper end of the crane is secured. In other respects the construction is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form by the use of which the leverage or effective pull of the weight at the end of' the crane-arm below its pivotal axis may be increased. In this construction the heel of the quadrant or segment D is provided with a rearward projection D4 to the outer end of which the end of a chain or rope J* is secured and is thence led downwardly beneath a pulley H4 journaled in brackets h4 projecting from the rear of the frame C and thence upwardly over pulley Gr4L to the top of the crane.

In heavy constructions the weight of the falls or ropes will be considerable and I preferably provide suitable means for taking up the slack of the rope or preventing the same from falling on to the other parts and thus interfering with the proper operation of the crane. For this purpose I preferably provide a` rope T having one end connected near the outer end of the gaff L, thence passing downwardly beneath a pulley t journaled in brackets t on the frame C, the other end of the rope being connected to the crane-arm at the point t2. In this way the rope J is prevented from dropping intermediate the pulleys F and G, and said rope J is retained under proper tension.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of a counterbalancing weight which assists in bringing in the load and the effective pull of which is automatically increased and diminished as the crane-arm moves inwardly and outwardly, and furthermore the effective pull of the counterbalancing weight itselt1 may be positively varied at the will of the operator. For this purpose, I provide a weighted lever R pivoted at r to the frame C. The outer end of said weighted lever R is so suspended by means of a rope S as to pull directly upon the crane-arm D at a point somewhat above the pivotal axis, at which point the greatest stress on the arm is met. As shown, the rope S is connected at one end directly to the arm, is led over a pulley s2 supported les 'wie

'in the frame and thence through pulleys s s and connected at its other end tofthe pulley s which is connected bymeans of a rope or link Sito the frame() at the point S. The weighted #lever -R as shown is hol-l low and supports VVa worm R2, adapted to rotate relatively but not to have la longitudinal movement, anda Inut r2 to which a weight IR k:is pivoted is threaded upon the worm R2. LA cranlrhandle R3 is provided to' rotate 'the 7worm and'to AShitt the position of Vthe weight relatively to the ends of the lever;

Having 'described invention Iclaim:

l. 'The combination with a suitable support, of a crane-arm lprovided with a curved surface at the lower -lend rolling on `said support; means for preventing the slipping vci" such curved surface during v.the movement of the crane-arm; a -pulley Vprovided atfthe'upper end of said arm; another pulley j ourn-aled in a fixedpositionadjacent to said support, a load supporting rope provided at one end with a securing device andledover thepu'lley at-the upper end of the crane-arm, thence downwardly around the Apulley in the said support and Lthence secured to the rear end of the curved surface-of the cranea-r rn.

2. The combination with a suitable trame of a crane-arm having a toothed segmentat the lowerend, rack in said frame upon which saidY segment may roll; a pulley provided at theupper end of said arm; another pulley vjournaledin a fixed position adjacent to -Said rack, a load supporting rope provided at one end with a securing device and led over the pulley at the upper end of fthe crane-arm, thence downwardly around the pulley mounted in the fixed support and thence upwardly and secured to the rear end or". the toothed segment. 4

3. Thercombination with a suitable fi'rarne of acrane-arm :having a vtoothed segment at the lower end and a yprojection extending rearwardly from the heel of such segment,

a rack Iupon which said segment lmay roll; a pulley provided at the upper end of lsaid arm; .another pulley -journaled in a .riXed position adjacent to said rack, qa load supporting rope provided at lone end ywith a securing device and led over the pulley at the upper end of the crane-arm, "thence downwardly over the pulleymounted inthe ixed supportand -thence upwardly andsecured to the sai-d rearward projection.

4. The combination of a crane-arm having a toothed segment at lits lower end, `a rack upon which the segment may roll, =a pulley at -the outer end, another pulley mounted `*in a fixed position adjacent to the rack, a load lsupporting yrope fled over the pulley at the outer end of the 'crane-arm, thence 'downwardly varound @the relatively fixed pulley andfthence upwardly andeonnected to the Segment; means for suspending the load from the said-rope Vand `imeans for regulating the compensation fl-thereofto compel the load lto xtraverse a true horizontal fp ath. v v

5. rlhe Icombination Ywith a suitable frame of a Acrane-arm having :a itoothed segment at J'the lower end, -a lrack upon which said segment may -roll,a pulleyat thelouter end of ysaidgcra-ne arm, a compensating arrangement of the 5falls over said pulley whereby the 'distance between 'the outer Send/of the crane-arm the 'load securing xAdev-ice is varied as the crane-arm moves vertically, and Aan independent-flexible vconnection Ibetweenthe falls at apoint below said pulley and two relatively Amovable points on the crane `and 'fr-ame respectively :for automatically taking up 'thes'lack ofthe rope.

,In witness whereof, l have hereunto vset my hand to the foregoing sp'eciticationin the presenceo' `two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREAS 'R 'LUNDIN Vitnessesg:

FREDERICK '-P. RANDOLPH, HELEN 1V. HOLMES.

fcopiesofthis patent may be obtained :forfivemeentsnach,Tuy:addressing theL/Gommissioner :of Patents, `Waahingtoxnil). GL

It is hereby certified that the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,120,727, granted December 15, 1914, upon the application of Andreas P. Lundin, of New York,

N. Y., for an improvement in Ci-anos, was erroneously described and specified as Veiin Davit and Lane S: Degroot Co., Consolidated, whereas said assignee should have been described and specified as ii'el'in iimne Equipment Compran/j,

as shown by the records of assignments in this oHice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the saine may conform to the reoord of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of September, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

